Street-cleaning machine.



R. H. STEPHENS, W. P. DAVIDSON & D. C. SMITH.

STREET GLBAMNG MACHINE. APPLIoL-'Honrunn JULY 1s, 1909.

Patented July 26, 1910.

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I @9i/[mamen Y @Montags R. H. STEPHENS, W. DAnIDSON & D. C. SMITH.

STREET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 15, 1909.

Patented July 26, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@wi/buzz D. H. STEPHENS, W. D. DAVIDSON & D. c. SMITH..

STREET CLEANING MAUHINE. y

APPLIOATI'QH FILED JULY 15. 1909;

965,764. Patented July 26, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. H. STEPHENS, W. F. DAVIDSON & D. G. SMITH.

STREET GLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIDN Hmm JULY 15, 1909.

Patented July 26, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

YI IHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIHIHIIIIHIIIi-HI @wi/humm@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT HARLIN STEPHENS AND WILLIAM F. DAVIDSON, OF NEW CASTLE, PENN- SYLVANIA, AND DAVID CARL SMITH, OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

STREET-CLEANING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1910.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT HARLIN STEPHENS and WILLIAM F. DAVIDSON, residing at New Castle, in the county of Lawrence, State of Pennsylvania, and DAVID CARL SMITH, residing at Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street- Cleaning Machines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact del scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in street cleaning machines 'and consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a street cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the invention, parts of the same being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the rearend of the machine, partly in section; Fig. l is a vertical cross section looking toward the rear side of the dust hopper; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through the filtering mechanism with the inlet end of the discharge spout shown in section; Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7; Fig. 7 'is a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view through the gearing at one end of the Amain brush, showing the manner in which the auxiliary brush is supported and operated; Fig. 9 1s an end view of the same; Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section of the lower end of the dust conveyer and take-up mechanism; Fig. 11 is a detail vertical cross section through the front end of the machine, showing the steering mechanism; Fig. 12 is a lan view, partly in section, of the changeaible speed mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the main frame of the machine which is supported at its rear end upon supporting and driving wheels2 and at its forward end upon steering wheels 3. On the forward end of the frame is arranged a suitable motor 4 which may be of any suitable construction but which is preferably in the form of a gasolene engine. The drive shaft 5 of the. engine extends back through the central port-ion of the machine to near the rear end thereof and on said drive shaft is arranged a clutch 6 by means of which a set of changeable speed gears 7 in a casing 7 are thrown into and out of operative engagement with the shaft 5. On one of the shafts of the changeable speed gea-rs is mounted a bevel gear pinion 8 which is operatively engaged with a bevel gear 9 on a power transmitting shaft 10 which extends transversely across the machine and is revolubly mounted in suitable bearings thereon. On the opposite ends of the shaft 10 are iixedly mounted sprocket gear pinions 12 which are connected by sprocket chains 13 to sprocket gears 14 which are operatively connected to the driving and supporting wheels 2 of the machine. The clutch 6 has connected thereto a shifting lever 15 which is connected by a series of operating rods and levers 16 to a foot lever 17 arranged on the front platform of the machine in. convenient reach of the engineers or drivers seat 18. By means of the levers and operating rods 15, 16 and 17, the clutch 6 may be operated to throw the propelling mechanism into and out of gear with the drive shaft. The changeable speed gears are connected by a rocker arm 19 and the operating rod 20 to a hand lever 21 arranged on the front platform within convenient reach of the drivers seat.

Revolubly mounted in suitable bearings in the lower ends of supporting arms 22 on the under side of the machine is a main sweeping brush 23 which is .arranged at a suitable angle as shown. The supporting arms 22 are pivotally connected to the under side of the machine to permit the same to be swung upwardly thereby raising the brush out of engagement with the street. The supporting arms 22 have connected thereto Aone end 'of raising and lowering cables 24 which pass over suitable guide pulleys 25 arranged in a suitable position on the frame of the machine and extend to the rear end of the machine where they are connected to a winding drum 26 which is suitably mounted on the rear portion of the frame and has connected thereto operatin gears27 which are provided with a cra handle 28 whereby the cables 24 may be wound or unwoundnto raise and lower the arms 22 and the brush 23.

On one end ofthe shaft of the brush 23 is mounted a sprocket gear 29 which is connected by a sprocket chain 30 to a sprocket gear 3l which is iXedly mounted on the short shaft 32 journaled 1n suitable bearings on the under side of the rear latform of the machine. Fixedlly; connecte to or forming part of the sproc et gear 31 is a bevel gear 33 which is in operative engagement with a bevel gear pinion 34 mounted on one end of a power transmitting shaft 35 which is also journaled in suitable bearings in the rear platform of the machine. On the shaft 35 is Xedly mounted a large spur gear 36 which projects up through the-platform a suitabledistance and is engaged by'a spur gear pinion 37 which is loosely mounted on the rear end of the main drive shaft 5 and is adapted to be locked intooperative engagement with said shaft by a clutch 38. To-the clutch 38 is connecter"- a shifting lever 39 which is connected to a hand operating lever 40 arranged on the rear platform of the machine. By means of the gearing and clutch mechanism jnst described, the brush may be thrown into and out of operative connection with the drive shaft of the engine.

On the outer or opposite end of the main brush shaft from the gear 29 is fiXedly mounted a bevel gear 41 which is in Operative engagement with a bevel gear pinion 42 on the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 43 which is revolubly mounted in suitable bearing brackets 44 formed on the adjacent brush supporting arms 22. On the lower end of the shaft 43 is fixedly'mounted a horizontally disposed brush 45 which is preferably set at an angle on the shaft 43 so that the dirt will be thoroughly swept away from the curb and into the ath of the main brush 23. Secured to the Ibrush supporting arm 22 over the brush 45 and its operating mechanism is a guard or shield 46 by means of which the brush and its operat-Y ing mechanism are prevented from being crowded against the curb-stone and thereby crushed or injured.

Arranged in the frame of the machine, immediately in rear of the motor is a dirt hopper 47 said hopper being provided with an inclined bottom portion and with a discharge opening in its lower end which is normally closed by drop doors 48 whereby the dirt' may be discharged from the hopper when desired.

Arranged at one side of the'machine and communicating at its upper end with the top of the hopper is a dirt elevator comprising a casing 49 in which is revolubly-mounte Va conveyer 50 which preferably consists of endless chains which are adapted to travel over sprocket wheels 51 and 52 arranged at the upper and lower ends of the casing 49. The chains 50 are connected by light wooden slats 53 which are adapted to engage the bottom of the casing 49 and to elevate or draw the dirt collected in the lower end of the elevator upwardly and to discharge the same into the upper end of the hopper. The dirt conveying slats 53 are preferably con structed of light wood so that they'will be broken by any obstructions or hard substances taken up by the conveyer thus preventing the straining or breaking of other parts of the machinery. On the shaft of the upper sprocket wheel 51 is ixedly mounted a grooved wheel 54 which is connected by a crossed belt 55 to a grooved pinion wheel 56 on a power transmitting shaft 57 which is mounted in suitable bearings on the top of the hopper, as shown.

Connected with the upper end of the elevator casing 49 is a suction fan casing 58 in which is operatively mounted a suction fan whereby a draft is created up the casing 49 to draw the dust laden air u through said casing and to force the same tlhrough a discharge spout 59 into a filtering box 60 in which is arranged coarse and fine air lterin screens 61, settling devices 61El and baille p ates 61b by means of which the dust is thoroughly separated from the air and the latter dischargedfrom a suitable tube 62 which eX- tends down below the platform of the machine. The filtering box 60 is provided with a hinged bottom 6()a which is provided with a lever 60b whereby the same may be dumped to discharge the dust collected thereon into the hopper. The fan in the casing 58 is operated by means of a belt 63 which passes around a pulley 64 on the fan shaft and is engaged with a pulley 65 on a power transmitting shaft 57. On one end of the shaft 57 is iixedly mounted a bevel gear 66 which is connected to a suitable power transmitting or operating mechanism hereinafter described.

On the lower end of the elevator casing 49 is arranged an inclined dirt take-up chute 67 which preferably consists of a series of beveled bars arranged in close engagement with each other and are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the lower end of the elevator casing 49. The bars 67 are provided on their upper pivoted ends with ofiset stop shoulders 68 which are adapted to engage similar shoulders 69 on the lower portion of the elevator casing. The shoulders 68 .are provided to limit the upward and downward movement of the hinged bars 67 to preinterfere with a dust collecting brush hereinafter described or to prevent the same from dropping into engagement with the ground when the elevator casing is raised. The bars 67 of the chute are hingedly connected to permit the same to move over obstructions vent the same from being elevated so far as to and to slide loosely over the dirt swe t up by the brush 23 and said bars are su ciently heavy to enable them to remain down in engagement with the sweepings or with the ground to permit the sweepings to be swept up the same and into the lower end of the conveyer but are not suiiiciently heavy to drag the dirt.

Arranged immediately in rear of the lower end of the elevator casing 49 and the chute 67 is a dirt elevating or take up brush 70 by means of which the dirt swept up by the brush 23 will be swept up the chute 67 and into the lower end of the elevator casing where it is taken by the conveyer therein and elevated into the hopper inthe manner hereinbefore described. The brush 70 is operated by means of a sprocket gear 74 which is ixedly mounted on the inner end of the shaft 71 of the brush and is connected by a sprocket chain 75 to a s rocket gear 76 on a shaft 73. On the sha 't 73 is also ixedly mounted a bevel gear 77 which is operatively engaged with a bevel gear pinion 78 on the end of a short power transmitting shaft 79 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine and has mounted on it a spur gear 80 which is in operative engagement with the spur gear pinion 37 on the main drive shaft 5 of the engine. By means of the gearing just described, the brush 70 is revolved in the proper direction to sweep up the dirt into the lower end of the elevator, as hereinbefore described. The brush 70 is held in operative position in rear of the elevator casing 49 by means of connecting bars or straps 81, one end of which is loosely connected to the shaft of the lower sprocket gear 52, while the other end is loosely connected tothe shaft of the brush 70.

The brush 70 and the lower end of the elevator casing 49 are adapted to be raised and lowered out of and into operative engagement with the ground by hoisting cables 82, the rear ends of which are connected to the lower ends of the bars or straps 81 while t-he` opposite ends of the cables wind upon winding drums 83 mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame of the machine. On one end of the shaft 84 of the winding drums 83 is ixedly mounted a spur gear 85 which is connected by a train of gears 86 to an operating shaft 87 to which is secured la crank handle88 by means of which the drums are operated to wind and unwind the raising and lowering cables, thus raising and lowering the brush 70 and the lower end of the elevator which is connected to the shaft of the brush by the connecting bars 81- hereinbefore described.

On the shaft 7 3 is fixedly mounted a bevel gear 89 with which is engaged a bevel gear pinion 90 on the lower end of a vertically disposed power transmitting shaft 91 which is mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine and has lixedly mounted on its upper end a bevel gear pinion 92 which is engaged with the bevel gear pinion 66 on the shaft 57 whereby motion is imparted to the operating mechanism of the dirt elevating conveyer and to the dust collecting fan.

In the front platform of thelmachine in front of the drivers seat is arranged the steering shaft 93 on which is arranged a steering wheel 94. On the lower end of the shaft 93 is arranged a worm 95 which connects with the usual segment 96 and operating rods by means of which the front steering wheels 37 are operated to steer the machine in the desired direction.

On the power transmitting shaft 10 is arranged a brake pulley 97 provided with a brake band 98 which is connected by a suitable operating rod 99 with a foot lever 100 arranged in the platform of the machine within reach of the drivers seat. By means of the lever 10() and the brake mechanism operated thereby, the speed of the machine may be readily controlled. V

From the description, it will be seen that the propelling, the steering and the brake mechanism are under the control of the engineer or driver on the front platform of the machine, while the brush operating and raising and lowering mechanisms are under the control of an operator stationed on the rear platform of the machine.

On the front platform of the machine, at one side of the 'engine is left a space 101 on which may be arranged suitable gasolene and water tanks, not shown.

The rotary take-up brush 70 in practice will be covered by a suitable hood to prevent the flying or scattering of the dust and dirt, said hood being omitted from the drawings to better the illustration of the construction and arrangement of the brush.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the proportion, form and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is:

1. In a street'cleaning machine, a wheeled supporting frame, a motor arranged in said frame, a driving mechanism operated by said motor, means to control said driving mechanism a main sweeping brush, an auxiliary side or curb sweeping brush operated by the movement of said main brush to sweep the dirt from the curb into the path of movement of said main brush, a brush operating mechanism operatively connected to said motor, means to throw said brush operating mechanism into and out of operation, a dirt elevating mechanism comprising a conveyer,

a hopper carried by the machine to receive the dirt elevated by said conveyer, a take-up brush adapted to sweep the dirt gathered by the main sweeping brush into said elevating mechanism whereby the same is conveyed to the hopper, means to operatively connect said elevating mechanism and take-up brush with the motor, and raisino' and lowering mechanism connected to said brushes and elevating mechanism whereby the same are raised and lowered totinoperative and operative position.

2. In a street cleaning machine, a sweeping mechanism comprisin a main brush, pivotally mounted supporting arms to hold said brush in operative position and to permit the same to be raised and lowered, a vertically disposed shaft revolubly mounted in the supporting arm at one end of said brush and operatively geared to the latter, a side or curb sweeping brush mounted on the lower end of said shaft whereby dirt is swept from the' curb into the path of movement of said main brush, a guard to protect said side or curb brush, a hopper carried by the machine, a dirt elevator, means to operate said brushes and elevator and means to sweep the dirt gathered by said main brush into the lower end of said elevator whereby the same is conveyed to the e hopper.

3.Y In a street sweeping machine, a wheeled supporting frame, a sweeping mechanism, a hopper carried by the frame, a dirt elevating mechanism comprising an endless conveyer, a casin inclosing said conveyer, a take-up chute plvoted to the lower end of the casing, means to limit the swinging movement of said take-up chute, a pair of rearwardly extending bearing bars pivoted to the lower end of the casing, a rotary take-up brush to sweep the dirt gathered by said sweeping mechanism, mounted between the rear ends of said bearing bars, and means to raise the rear ends of said bearing bars and rotary take-up brush into elevated or inoperative position.

4:. In a street sweeping machine, a wheeled suppcrtingframe, a motor arranged thereon, a driving mechanism operated by said motor, means to control said driving mechanism, a main sweeping brush, van auxiliary side or curb sweeping brush operated by the l movement of said main brush to sweep the dirt from the curb into the path of movement of said main brush, a brush-operating mechanism connected to said motor, means to throw said mechanism into and out of gear, a dirt elevating mechanism comprising a conveyer, a hopper to receive the dirt from the conveyer, a take-up brush to sweep the dirt gathered by thev main sweeping brush into vsaid elevating mechanism, whereby the same is conveyed to the hopper and means to connect said elevating mechanism and take-up brush with the drive motor.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT HARLIN STEPHENS.- WILLIAM 4F. DAVIDSON. DAVID CARL SMITH. VVit-nesses to signatures of Stephens and Davidson:

ROBERT L. WALLACE, Louise B. HUrroN. Witnesses to signature of D. C. Smit-h:

A. E. WERTs, 1 A. C. PARR. 

